The recent release of Muhammad Abu Salmiya, the director of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, has sparked tension within the Israeli government. Abu Salmiya was arrested during an Israeli military operation in the medical complex last November and was released along with 50 other Palestinian prisoners.
Upon his release, Abu Salmiya was greeted by his relatives and led to backlash from Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, who criticized the release as “security negligence.” Ben-Gvir called for independent policies to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an investigation into the decision to release the prisoners, clarifying that it was based on professional considerations by security officials. Despite this, the Shin Bet defended the release of Abu Salmiya and other prisoners due to overcrowding in Israeli prisons and a lack of space. The agency emphasized that the released prisoners were not deemed to pose a significant threat and met all requirements regarding the level of danger posed.
Abu Salmiya, who was accused of being involved in Hamas’s “terrorist activities” at the hospital, denounced the dire conditions faced by Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, including food and water shortages and alleged torture. The release of Abu Salmiya and other prisoners has sparked a debate on the treatment of prisoners in Israeli detention centers and the decision-making process surrounding such releases.
The ongoing debate highlights Israel’s struggle to balance security concerns with human rights violations committed against Palestinians during their imprisonment. As tensions continue to rise between Israelis and Palestinians, it remains uncertain whether this issue will be resolved anytime soon.
